Business births: Tomorrow could kick start new Paraplanning firms
Tomorrow could mark the beginning for up to a dozen new Paraplanning start up businesses as a leading Paraplanner gets set to pass on his knowledge.
IFP board member Richard Allum is running a workshop on setting up a Paraplanning company, with about 16 expected to attend.
He has told Financial Planner Online previously that 12 Paraplanners had expressed strong interest in going down the entrepreneurial route by establishing their own firms.
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Mr Allum, founder of The Paraplanners, said the event has been designed to address the apparent absence of support that is available to Paraplanners with outsourcing ambitions.
Running the workshop will help fulfil his goal of pushing the Paraplanner profession forward - a pledge he made when elected to the IFP board.
The Paraplanners' base at The Core Business Centre near Abingdon, Oxfordshire is the venue for the event.
Mr Allum, founder of the Paraplanners Powwow, said: "It's good to see people are interested in developing their own Paraplanning skills and thinking about starting their own business, it's a positive sign.
"I know there's a lot of interest out there and it will be really good to meet people.
"There'll be a few of us old timers to share the mistakes we've made along the way.
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"It's a great way for them to actually see what it's all about rather than taking a huge leap into the known."
Director of The Paraplanners, Kim Bendall, will also be leading a session called 'What's it really like to run an outsourced Paraplanning business?'
The workshop will combine open forum discussions, presentations, and question and answer sessions that will cover topics including:
▪ What does the outsourced Paraplanning market look like?
▪ Is there a demand?
▪ How to set up a business and the different options
▪ What services should I offer?
▪ Setting fees and charges
▪ What software and systems do I need?
▪ Marketing and promotion
▪ Legal and accounting issues
▪ Staying on top of professional development
▪ How to work on your own without going mad?